The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-06-18
LIFE FOR LIFE.
BY MRS. Z. IL. IL.

"Mr RoyI'
Roy Danforth, reused from deep reveric
by the lows clear voice. taarps witha start,a
dark flush deepening The glow Oh has hand.
some face
Before him stands a slim, slip of a girl,
just turned seventeen, with dark, olive
complexion, an exqnisitely nodded figure
deep black eyes, and half wistful, half.
mournful expression Of coantenance. /,
Roy regards her in silence for a moment
some deep and strong emotion stirring al
his heart that struggles for utterance.
But In another iustant it Is represscd- =
the eager look fades from his eyes, and in q
half-petulant tone he says:
swell, child, what brings you here like
some woodland elf,springing up when least
expected"
1t is not a happy figure or speech, and
the girls dark cheek flushes in mingled
embarrassment and resentment. But there
is no sign of feeling as she answers him.
save perhaps that her tOses is q shade lower
and more reserved than usual,
"Miss Ellerton babe me say that she de-
siros to see you," she answers simply.
She lifts her eyes as she speaks the last
words--lifts ihena just in time to see the
new, glad fight that leaps into his. I'M
puisively she seizes her hand and holds il
close.
THANK you. thank you!" le cxelaim:
fervently. You have brought me good
news-at least hope SOP then turning, he
strides hastily away, while the girl stand:
looking after him-the hand he has just
released pressed upon its fellow, over hel
throbbiEg heart.
'Am l not Justly punished for my folly
my presumptionS" she murmurs at last
with white, set lips-then suddenly finginl
out her arms with heart-breaking moan
-"oh, why did come here? why were tn,
days so fair? why were hearts so kind, anG
life so bright, only to go out like this il
darkness and utter emptiness? All thi:
time while my heart has been lying at hi,
feet his has been going out to hers
stranger six weeks ago~-and he has gone
now TO receive from her the answer thai
will shut him away from me forever-for
ever! And yet he did care for me once-ol
can ii be that hs daams me only the chi.t
he has so often called me?"
Standing down at the foot of the garden
she looks moodily out upon the river flow
ing swiftly by, It's current tuIbd and swol
len by the fierce storm of two nights since
seeming fit type of her own DEVASTATED
life-and for an instant a dark temptation
assails her-to regain by strategy what she
has lost-to wrest from this woman, hel
rival, her shOrt-llVed triumph, But the ig
noble impulse dies with the next breath,
''No, nor she murmurs iowly, her hands
clasped, and her lovely dark face uptuTnet
to the sky. ''No voluntary act OF min,
shall add 10 the sorrow that is already here
Mrs, Danforth has told me how her eldes
son was driven from bis home, aiienatet
from his promised wife, and his whole lif,
im6ittered, in consequence of tho evi
wrought by wOuld-be rival. And shall l
whom she has treated not like the com
panion she engaged me to be, but like
loved and trusted daughter. repay tina
kindness with such base ipgratitpdeP No
no! let the fault, the mistake, the suffering
be minel None shall ever know"
The small, shspely head is thrown proud
ly erect, as, in that decisive moment III
girl meets her fate, and copquers IL, the
with slow bnt firm step she returns to tn
house.
In room, the door of which stands ajaI
Nina Yalaire sees Roy and Helene Ellerto
standing tOgether-ber face upturned to hi
with look Of bright, happy confidence
although there is sparkle of tears in he
eyes.
At the same moment he raises her han
TO his lips, saying In low, earnest tones
"You have made this the happiest day {
my life, Helener'
Then Nina passes on in a blind, gropin
way TO her own room.
Half an hour later, from the window b
side which she is standing, Nina sees Re
pass the house on horseback. He WaYl